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Sir Alex Ferguson gets tribute from Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger

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Pep Guardiola pays tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson and hopes he makes a speedy recovery from surgery

Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger both sent their best wishes to Sir Alex Ferguson on Sunday.

The former Manchester United boss, 76, is seriously ill in intensive care after undergoing emergency surgery following a brain haemorrhage.

The Scot is good friends with Guardiola, and at one stage the Catalan had looked a contender to replace Ferguson at Old Trafford.

Guardiola, who revealed he recently went for dinner with Ferguson following this season’s Premier League title win, told Sky Sports: "Brian Kidd, who is here now, was with (Sir Alex) for a lot of time.

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The Sunday Supplement panel discuss Ferguson's battle after brain surgery and reflect on his managerial career

"So a big hug and our thoughts are with his wife Cathy and the Manchester United family. I was glad to have dinner with him two weeks ago, and hopefully he can recover as quickly as possible."

Departing Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also expressed his best wishes to Sir Alex at the start of his farewell speech at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon after watching his side beat Burnley 5-0.

The Frenchman said: "Before I start, I just want to say that at Arsenal we care and I would like to wish my fellow manager Ferguson well, very quickly."

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He then told Sky Sports: "I'm concerned because only last week we were together and I trust his strengths and optimistic character to get over this very quickly.

"He told me he's doing a lot of exercise, he looked very happy, but that kind of accident can happen.

"We wish him very well and that he recovers very, very quickly. He's a strong man and an optimistic man."

Guardiola and City got their hands on the Premier League trophy on Sunday afternoon at the Etihad after a goalless draw with Huddersfield.

Pep Guardiola
Image: Pep Guardiola saw his Manchester City team lift the Premier League trophy on Sunday afternoon

There was also a nice gesture from two Manchester City fans who walked onto the pitch after their final home game holding a banner that read 'Football aside, get well Fergie'.

Sir Alex, who managed United between 1986 and 2013, remains in intensive care at Salford Royal Hospital following surgery on Saturday, having been taken there after falling ill at home.

Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper has been at the Manchester hospital throughout Sunday but he is not expecting an update on Ferguson's condition in the short-term.

United said on Saturday the surgery had gone “very well” but that Ferguson would need a period of intensive care to aid his recovery.

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